Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have become the most efficient vehicles on the market. Green Car Reports put together a list of the top 10 greenest cars for 2019 and, unsurprisingly, all of them are electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. Unlike the outlet's report last year, which had quite a few plug-in hybrids, this year's list only has one and is dominated by electric cars.
At the top of the list is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric. With an EPA rating of 136 MPGe, the Ioniq Electric is the most energy-efficient vehicle on the market. While it’s efficient, the EV has one of the shorter ranges in the segment, as the vehicle’s 28-kWh battery pack is only rated at 124 miles.
It’s surprising to see one of Hyundai’s electric options at the top of the charts and not something from Tesla. When it comes to electric range, Tesla’s the brand to beat. So it’s easy to assume that it’s also the top dog when it comes to energy efficiency. But that’s not the case. Pricing for the Ioniq Electric starts at $31,245 (all prices include destination).
In second place was the Tesla Model 3 – no surprises here. There’s a reason why Tesla’s most affordable trim has been such a huge hit, it’s because it’s relatively affordable and has an impressive amount of range. With a rating of 133 MPGe, the Model 3 is only a few figures off the Ioniq Electric. The Model 3’s entry-level Standard Range Plus trim has a range of 240 miles and starts at $40,190.
Third place was another surprise because it’s another Hyundai. The Kona Electric is a newcomer, but it immediately shot to the top of shoppers’ lists with a 258-mile range. At 120 MPGe, it’s not nearly as efficient as the top two choices, but it’s still really good. A starting price of $38,045 is also incredibly appealing.
Other standouts include the Volkswagen e-Golf (in fifth place) with a 119 MPGe rating. The Golf has just 125 miles of range and is much older than a lot of others on this list. The BMW i3 (sixth place) is also a surprise, as BMW has done little to increase the model’s efficiency in recent years. Still, with a 113-MPGe rating, the i3 lands a spot on the list.
Prices, as one would expect, are all over the place for vehicles on Green Car Reports’ list. The Kona Electric is the cheapest vehicle with a starting price that’s just above $38,000, while the Tesla Model X is the most expensive vehicle with a price tag of $86,190.
Some of the vehicles on the list may have surprised us, but others were surprising because they didn’t make the cut. Most notably are the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-tron. Both of those EVs have MPGe ratings of roughly 75, which is well behind all of these 10 vehicles.
To see a complete list of vehicles that made the cut and their MPGe ratings, check out the list below.
- Hyundai Ioniq Electric – 136 MPGe
- Tesla Model 3 – 133 MPGe
- Hyundai Kona Electric – 120 MPGe
- Chevrolet Bolt EV – 119 MPGe
- Volkswagen e-Golf – 119 MPGe
- BMW i3 – 113 MPGe
- Kia Niro EV – 112 MPGe
- Nissan Leaf – 112 MPGe
- Tesla Model S – 111 MPGe
- Tesla Model X – 96 MPGe